Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, water baptism is an external, material ritual that is symbolic of repentance, and that does not necessarily have to be in the name of Jesus or accompanied by faith in Him (as indicated by John the Baptist's activity in baptizing people prior to Jesus' ministry, and as John himself pointed out in Matthew 3:11).

Spirit baptism is baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:19), and is based on faith in Christ's death and resurrection for salvation. Although it may or may not occur in conjunction with the use of water (Acts 1:5 and Acts 2:3-4; Acts 10:44-48), it results in the indwelling of the individual who has been baptized by the Holy Spirit, and the imparting of gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

In the New Testament, Spirit baptism was sometimes associated with outward visible signs of those gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:1-7), although there were other occasions when such immediate manifestations were not noted as occurring, despite the specific statement that those who were baptized received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-41).

July 03 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kevin Honeycutt Servant of Jesus Christ

It is one in the same. We receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized for the remission of sin by obeying the Gospel after coming to the knowledge that we need salvation from our sins and that he is the Son of God. 

John 3:5 5Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

What must you do?
Acts 2:37-38 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

What does baptism do?
Romans 6:4-11 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our LORD.

July 07 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report